The Portland daily press., 1887-04-15

miss chance.
Eric consented. He met Lumley and Moss
| the next day, and these two worthless
seemed afterward to be in better spirits than
usual
THAT'S the question:" replied Moss.
CHAPTER ia woMAN's WAY.
Edith Markham could not remember either
| her father or mother. Her mother was dead,
| and her father was married again and lived
abroad. That was all the information vouch-
| safed her.
Among Mr.. Burtonfords papers was one
| which was addressed to Edith, in the bank
er's handwriting, with this instruction: $40
be given to her at my death, but il that
should happen before She is 81, She must
keep this without opening it until that time
| 1t is about her mother and father, and she
need. be in no hurry to learn the particu-
| lars
She was 10 when her uncle died, and the
executors-John Pawson and Bardsley, the
solicitor, gave the paper to her, according to
the instructions which the dead man had
left; :,
There is good deal of writing there. .
said John. Would you like to keep it, or
pip
Edith thanked him, but kept it herself.
The strange misfortune which had happened
| to Eric, and the death of her aunt, then the
| death of her uncle, had crushed ner spirit.
| She could not help wondering whether her
| mother had been also unhappy. But she
| placed the paper in her desk, ana gave ner-
self over to sad thoughts. When would the
mystery concerning Eric be cleared up?
| Cleared up it must be, she felt sure. Then
she read note from him which he had sent
! to her at the time Of the trouble:
my dear Edith There is terrible mistake
somewhere, but my uncle is sure to, discover it,
and he will be very sorry. might have turned
out my pockets to pacify him, but / had all your
sweet little letters with me. and he would have
burns, and try what can do painting. My sister
Rose will hear fron me constantly.
Ever your own, ERIC.
Radburn was an artist He had often
spoken encouraging words to Eric and tried
to prevail on him to give himself up to art.
The years passed away, and Edith did not
see Eric. The discovery which was to clear
him was not made. Still, Edith did not
doubt him. From Rose she heard about his
welfare, and that was all. She set herself to
wonder and to wait. If Eric had presented
himself, she would have risked the loss of
fortune, but he kept silent and aloof; so she
could only shut up her sorrow in her heart,
ana a.; pray for patience to endure It, She kept
In the old house, and had for companion
the widow of a clergyman, whom John Paw
son recommended.
But Edith spent her Dist birthday in Scot
land, and it was Immediately afterward that
she wrote the letter asking for an interview
with Eric.
During these three years Eric had worked
hard In London, and his friends spoke favor
ably of his chances in the keen competition
of art. He told Radburn about his quarrel
with his uncle and the cause of it, and en-
joyed the honest sympathy of a true friend.
But this Eric was not the Eric of yore. He
had sad look, and went about the work of
life as If his heart was broken. His uncle's
cruel will was sad blow to him, and he re-
solved that unless his name was cleared he
would not see Edith again. He never for
got her birthday. His sister Rose had writ
ten TO say that she was away, and he was
wondering where in Scotland she was visit
ing, and what kind of birthday she had
spent, when John Pawson's letter came. 1t
was like the sight of the journeys end to
weary pilgrim. Eric did not realize before
how much he had been suffering, and for the
nrst time since his sorrow began he wept
bitterly.
The interview was to take place in John
faWSon'S private room at the bank. Eric
was there long before the time appointed
and the two men chatted about various sub
lects until Edith came. 1t was a strange
meeting for these two, who had not seen
each other for three years. John Pawson
could not help watching them, and he saw
the light of love in their eyes, and knew
what the end would be, whether the proofs
were satisfactory or not.
Now to business" said john, placing
chair for Edith by the side of his table, and
seating himself. Eric sat near to her and
gaZed wlstfully into her face.
FIRST or all, can you tell me the numbers
OF those notes which have disappeared?"
Edith asked,
Certainly" was Johns reply. ST have
had the book brought in on purpose, and
mere 1t is. opened at the right place." He
referred to the open page, and told her the
numbers.
Then Edith opened small satchei which
. "a hail
Two packets. The men watched her with
GREATNESS attention; but she calmly placed
the satehel on the ground beside her, and
Then laid the larger packet on the table. 1t
was roll of manuscript, tied with string.
The other packet she opened, and produced
three bank notes.
These are three notes for ESQ each," she
said, land the numbers are the same"
Where did you find them~ John and
Eric asked together.
Inside that roll of manuscript" she re-
piled.
What manuscript is it?" John Pawson
asked.
ut is the paper which my uncle left for
me, said Edith, and which was not to
open until | reached the age of p. 1t was
written by my mother, but toward the end
there are several pages which my uncle
added. My mother was not happy. think
from what have read there that my uncle
loved her very much at one time; but she
dld not live long, but died when was
baby. Then my father married somebody
else, and | am afraid he received a consider
able amount of money from my uncle. But
he died three years ago, though / did not
know it at the time. On the very day when
Erle's trouble came my uncle received news
OF my fathers death, and an abusive letter
from the widow, saying. that his debts
amounted to 4220; and she said my uncle
must send that sum, and send it in notes,
NOT nv flppE draft NV nncln wrote
This shall be my last communication with
a proud and extravagant woman. She shall
have the money and then good by. This is
intended only for your eye, Edith.
She did not say that her uncle also begged
her to be warned by her mothers fate, and
not allow her affections to be won by any
young fellow who cared great deal more
about pictures than about business; but she
was to value at their true worth the quail
ties of noble and honorable man, who nev-
er failed to do his duty, though the man
might not have youth on his side.
How came the bank notes in thereY"
Erie said, like man who could scarcely be-
lieve his senses.
They have been gummed or pasted to some
thing" he said.
YES" replied Edith, ''they were stuck to
the back of one of these Sheets" Then she
opened the roll and showed where she had
discovered them.
This is my theory" she continued: "My
uncle gummed the tier he had received and
fastened it to the last sheet Here it is
Some of the gum must have dropped on the
back of this other sheet, and then it must
have come in contact with the notes, and
three of them adhered, without his being
aware OF 1t. He was agitated and angry at
the time; and the manuscript was never
opened again, for the date on the corner is
that same day when Eric's trouble came"
Nc other explanation suggested itself, or
was necessary, but the notes and papers
were examined time after time.
THANK God for this great mercy" said
Eric.
lament" replied John Pawson, devoutly.
Edith was silent, but the tears were falling
down her cheeks.
Eric kissed her again and again.
John Pawson busted himself with the
notes. and there was no atom of Jealousy
about him.
They, must marry at. once" he said
aloud; then he checked himself, and looked
| toward the lovers to see whether they had
heard him or not.
Yes, they had heard him, there was no
doubt about that, so he made a clean breast
| of it, and said:
"This makes no difference to the will.
| You must not see each other before marriage
| except in my company, or your uncle's for
| tune will be lost. Lumley and Moss will be
on the lookout | know / have often won